The Negev and Gaza

The part of Israel closest to Gaza and therefore especially vulnerable to the rockets from Gaza is the Negev.  The Negev is Israel's future. It is land inside Israel proper where there is room to grow without stepping on anyone else's sovereignty. It is not full of disputed religious shrines. It is just an underdeveloped land waiting to be developed. It is home to the Ben Gurion University of the Negev which is engaged in teaching and research not only for Israel and Jews, but for the outside world. Ben Gurion University has developed methods in water conservation  and farming which can be applied to drying up lands in Africa and elsewhere. It has done cooperative research projects with Jordan in creating a coral reef in the Red Sea. Ben Gurion's Medical School for International Health teaches students from all over the world. This is the Israel that Hamas fears and hates. Hamas probably loves the West Bank settlements which do nothing for Israel and give the Palestinian leadership the opportunity to play victim. Let us hope that one day the sane people on both sides will come together and prevail over the radicals who thrive on conflict. Meanwhile, the Hamas rockets need to be stopped militarily. There just is no other way for now.